The decision to redeploy IDF forces in Gaza was a "purely military one", but marks a crucial crossroads for the Israeli government to decide whether it will deal decisively with Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza, or merely push off the next round of fighting for a few years.

That's according to former Israeli National Security Adviser Major General (res.) Yaakov Amidror, a fellow at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar Ilan University.

Speaking to Arutz Sheva, Amidror explained that the IDF's mission upon entering Gaza was very clear: "to identify and destroy" Hamas's tunnel network.

Amidror clarified that there are three different kinds of tunnel networks in Gaza. The first two - smuggling tunnels from the Sinai Peninsula into Gaza, and the vast "labyrinth" of tunnels under Gaza's urban population centers, meticulously constructed in preparation for any IDF ground operation - were not the target of Operation Protective Edge, although those discovered in the course of fighting were usually destroyed by IDF forces.

Only the limited number of tunnels leading into Israeli territory (several dozen - although the precise number may never be known), in preparation for deadly raids or kidnappings were actively targeted by Israel.

Echoing statements made earlier on Sunday to Arutz Sheva by a senior military official, Amidror said the IDF was close to completing that mission - although he suggested a post-operation committee of inquiry be set up to determine what gaps, if any, there were between the tunnels which were known about in advance, and those which were eventually discovered.

That being the case, there was therefore simply "no military logic" for forces to remain where they were once they had cleared the areas in question.

The article is pretty long, but to sum up the choices, the first is to "dig in for a long, attritional battle, in which both sides will slug it out for many more weeks or even months. The IDF could then choose to keep its forces where they are inside Gaza and engage with terrorist forces as they surface, or equally to withdraw altogether and exchange fire from Israeli territory, as it did during the initial phase of Operation Protective Edge."

The second choice mentioned in the article is " to redeploy forces deeper inside Gaza, overthrowing Hamas and seizing complete control of the entire territory."

Israel is in an absurd situation due to its historically atypical restraint it has demonstrated over the last sixty five years. What nation would tolerate nearly 2,000,000 militarized hostiles living adjacent to its borders? When Caesar conquered Gaul, the country was Romanized within a generation. There were no adjacent militarized Gallic states or enclaves. The Gallic religion, language, customs and culture were not honored or preserved. There was no multiculturalism. When Rome fell it was not from internal revolts in Gaul, Spain or Britain.

Israel will win this battle but will only have a temporary respite from a worsening strategic situation. The hostile Palestinians will remain in Gaza, either Hamas or a more radical group aligned with jihadists will govern and the missiles will become more sophisticated and stealthy. There can never be a real peace since both claim the same lands. Peace will only come when one or the other ceases to be a definable political entity. Eventually an Israeli Cato (”Carthage must be destroyed!”)will come forth and demand the end of Palestine.

“He ultimately believes that economic development will turn enemies into at least neutrals.”

I saw him 20 years ago, when he was stuck having to deal with Clinton, he is not dumb - he knew EVEN THEN that you cannot have land for peace with people out to kill you and still indoctrinating their children to do the same. The agreements they reached with the PLO REQUIRED that Jews be presented as human beings to Palestinian school children (i.e., the Hamas fighters they’re dealing with today) - but that was too much for Araphat to stomach, so they kept the Nazi-style propaganda going (i.e., Jews are monkeys, pigs, etc.), while JUST ABOUT EVERYONE simply ignored that end of things (including, later, Bush-43)...except Bibi - he kept pointing that out, over and over.

“He sees himself as buying time until economic self-interest asserts itself.”

No question people are driven by self-interest, but economics is not the only self interest that drives people. For the fanatics (and that’s who runs the place), that is not their primary interest. And that may also be true for the not so fanatics - after all they elected Hamas.

That is especially true when people are brainwashed day in and day out to hate jews and Israel. That is “community organizing” on steroid. (That’s basically what Obama did in South Chicago - agitate the neighborhood to hate the man.)

What is needed is what we did to the germans and the japanese after WWII. Total defeat, unconditional surrender and elimination of their former leaders, party, and then a full scale cultural reeducation.

That is quite an undertaking for a small country like Israel and with the world against them.

Thing is ISIS (like them or not) is doing exactly that in the territories they’ve occupied, and the world is mostly silent. You have to admit it, Islam has done rather well following that formula.

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